Hinged clogs



June 21, 1955 R. P. DICK 2,711,033

- HINGED CLOGS Filed Feb. 18, 1952 INVENTOR.

United States Patent O HINGED CLOGS Raymond P. Dick, Chicago, Ill. Application February 1S, 1952, Serial No. 272,042 2 Claims. (Cl. Sa-11.5)

The present invention relates to hinged clogs, and is particularly concerned with an improved construction of hinged clogs which is more comfortable, more safe and satisfactory in every way than the devices of the prior art.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision which constantly follow the movement of the parts of 'f the foot, maintaining a exible contact with the bottom of the foot at all times so that the user may walk in a natural and comfortable manner, and may in fact Walk or run with a minimum amount of possibility of the clog becoming displaced from its natural position on the foot.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved mode of attachment of a hinged clog to the foot in such manner that the clog is held with the foot in longitudinally centered position on the clog by balanced forces exerted by resilient strap members on the toe and the heel, and reacting against each other through the clog so that such movement as is required for comfortable perambulation is resiliently permitted, but the clog naturally tends to resume its proper position relative to the foot whenever it should happen to be slightly displaced longitudinally, as may occur due to the bumping of the clog or to frictional engagement with the terrain.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved hinged clog, the parts of which have a benecial therapeutic massaging effect upon the bottom of the foot during the course of the natural Walking movements of the user, while the clog is being resiliently pressed into engagement with the ball of the footv and the heel and constantly maintained in massaging contact therewith.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved hinged clog which is durable in construction, which has antislipping characteristics, which may be manufactured at a very low cost, and which is adapted to be used under the most adverse conditions for a long period of time without necessity for repair or replacement of any of its parts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention Will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the single sheet of drawings accompanying the specification,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the foot of a wearer ICC using a clog embodying the invention and illustrating its action during the bending of the sole of the foot;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the clog apart from the foot;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the clog;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the clog;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the piane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of 'the arrows;

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, theclog is illustrated in Fig. l upon the foot of a user, and is indicated in its Ventirety by the numeral 11.

The clog preferably includes a rear part 12 and a forepart 13, joined by a hinge indicated at 14. The clogs are preferably made all of one shape adapted to be used on either the right or the left foot and are, therefore, symmetrically shaped with respect to their longitudinal axis.

The rear part 12 is preferably formed of a relatively thick block of wood having a partially cylindrical rear side 15,v and slightly concave side portions 16, 17 diverging toward the straight forward edge 18.

The rear portion 12 is provided with a substantially plane lower surface 19, which is grooved or rabbeted at 20, to provide a recess for an insert of sheet rubber 21, substantially rectangular in shape and provided with transversely extending ridges of V-shape separated by grooves.

The depth of the groove 20 is such that the V-shaped ridges project below the plane surface 19 for engaging the door and giving the clogs a non-slipping characteristic at the heel.

The corrugated rubber sheet 21 may be secured in place by a plurality of U-shaped wire staples 23, such as'four staples, one located adjacent each corner, and the staples are driven well down into the grooves of the corrugated rubber to prevent their Contact with the floor.

The rear portion 12 of the clog conforms substantially to the shape of the outside of the heel, except that it is slightly larger and provided with a curved depression 24, conforming substantially to the shape of a heel when compressed by the weight of the user of the clog.

VThe rear portion 12 of each clog tapers downwardly at its forward end at 25 toward the front edge 18, which may be located substantially one-third of the way from the top and two-thirds of the way from the bottom of the clog portion 12.

At its forward lower edge the clog portion 12 is beveled at an angle of substantially degrees, as indicated at 26, for a purpose further to be described.

The rear portion 12 of the clog is also cut away at 27 on its top adjacent its front edge 1S to form a recess for receiving the piece of canvas belting indicated at 28, which forms the upper part of the hinge 14.

The length of the rear portion 12 of the clog is preferably suiiicient to extend below the heel and the instep so that the front portion 13 of the clog is adapted to engage the ball of the foot and to extend beneath the ball of the foot and the toes.

The front portion 13 of the clog may be formed of a block of wood having upper and lower parallel sides, and the shape of this forward portion 13 is such that it conforms substantially to the shape of an insole, except that it is symmetrical on both sides.

Thus the forward portion 13 has two lateral edges 31 formed on a relatively large radius, and an end portion 32 formed on a smaller radius so that its general shape is oval, terminating at a rear edge 33, which may be straight and extends transversely at right angles to the major axis. v

Like the rear portion 12, the front portion 13 is provided with a similar groove or depression 34 for receiving a corrugated rectangular sheet of resilient rubber 35, the V-shaped corrugations of which project below the plane surface for engagement with the floor or terrain. 4

The rubber is again secured by means of U-shaped wire staples 36.

The hinge i4 is preferably formed of tough, resilient yet flexible fabric, such as cotton belting, and includes two pieces 28 and 37. The upper fabric 2S of the hinge 14 is substantially trapezoidal in shape, having the front and rear parallel edges 3S and 39, and the diverging lateral edges 40, 4l, which conform substantially to the shape of the adjacent portions of the wood blocks to which they are secured,

The depth of the recess Z7 in the rear block l2 and the recess 42 in the front block for the belting 23, is preferably such that the top of the belting is flush with the adjacent top surfaces of the blocks,I thus providing a smooth, continuous upper surface.

The upper belting 28 is secured to the two blocks by a plurality of relatively heavy U-shaped wire staples d3, preferably extending substantially parallel to the transverse edges 33, 39, and the U-shaped staples are preferably imbedded in the belting to be ush with the upper f surface of the belting.

The upper hinge belting 2S is preferably relatively wide in its front to rear dimension and is located in the upper plane of the clog assembly.

The lower belting member 37 is such that it is half as wide as the upper one and is also trapezoidal in shape, as shown in Fig. 4. It has parallel front and rear edges 44, 45, and diverging lateral edges do, 47 conforming substantially to the outline of the clog assembly, and is secured in a concave position to the lower beveled surfaces 26 and 4S on the rear and front blocks 12 and 13.

The two belting sections which form the hinge 14 are preferably secured together tightly at their midsection by means of a plurality of flat head staples 49, having the heads 50 disposed upwardly, and provided with a slightly convex upper surface which is substantially imbedded in the upper webbing 28.

The headed staples 49 are riveted over at 51, outside the lower belting 37, and as a plurality of headed staples are used and arranged in a transverse line, this provides the clog with a thin hinge portion which is adapted to bend substantially at the upper plane of the clog.

The lower belting 37 is also secured to the front and rear clog portions by a plurality of relatively heavy U- shaped staples 52, extending parallel to the front and rear edges of the belting, and the lower belting member 37 is efdectively formed into a substantially V-shape secured to the lower beveled surfaces 26 and 48.

This provides a lower V-shaped recess 53, which is adapted to cam any rocks, Sticks or other solid particles out of the recess 53 when the foot is straightened and prevents any tendency for pebbles to be caught between the parts of the hinge.

The clog is preferably provided with a plurality of resilient woven fabric straps for securing it on the foot, these straps being of the general type which has longitudinal strands of rubber incorporated in the fabric. Two of these straps, indicated at S4 and 55, extend from the toe of the clog transversely' to each other, forming an X-shaped pattern on top to the sides of the clog.

The resilient straps 54, 55 are preferably relatively wide and are secured to the front of the front block 13 quite close to each other by turning under the raw ends and securing these folded ends to the front wall of the block 13 by means of a plurality of round head upholstery tacks 56. Two or more upholstery tacks may be used for securing each strap at the front.

The straps extend backwardly toward each side and are again folded over at a beveled end portion 57 and secured to the rear block l2 at each side by a pluralityy of round head upholstery tacks 58 just behind the beveled portion 26.

The length of the crossed straps 54, 55 is preferably such that when the clog lies hat and empty the straps are not stretched but lie flatly against the top of the clog to be stretched outward when the foot is inserted.

The two crossed straps S4, 55 are so close together at the front that one of them engages centrally about the fthrough a hole between the straps, as it is the purposek of this location to keep the strap engaging the big toe so that the foot cannot move forward too far on the clog. This holds the clog in definite position beneath the foot.

The clog is also provided with a substantially U-shaped rear resilient strap titl, also made ofk a resilient woven fabric having rubber strands therein, and this fabric is preferably provided with a pair of inwardly projecting ridges 5l of resilient rubber simulating a chain formation which projects from the inside of the U-shaped strap 6ft and provides two lines of rubber contact with the heel of the wearer above the bulge 62 of the heel.

The U-shaped strap 6% is relatively short so that it has to be extended from the position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. l, where it is stretched and exerts a pull on the heel, which is counterbalanced by a pull of one of the front straps 54 or S5 engaging the big toe.

The U-shaped strap 60 has its end portions extending parallel to the beveled ends 57 of the front straps and t located under the front straps and secured by the same upholstery tacks 58 which secure the front straps.

The rubber ridges 61 on the rear strap 64B positively prevent this strap from slipping off the heel even when the heel is raised, and thus the rear block l2 is lifted by means of the strap 66 when the user walks on the ball of the foot, engaging the front block i3, and bends his foot pivoting the rear block 12 upwardly, as shown in Fig. l.

The operation of my clog is substantially as follows:

The clog is securely mounted and held on the foot by means of the crossed front straps and U-shaped rear strap.

The crossed front straps go over the top of the foot behind the toes and on top the toes and keep the front block in tight engagement with the ball of the foot and the toes. e

One of the front straps engages outside the big toe, conforming to and clinging about the end of the big toe and urging the clog forwardly on the foot. This is counterbalanced by the U-shaped rear strap which engages abovem the: heel and draws the clog rearwardly on the foot, and the counterbalancing of these two forces keeps the clog I roperly located under the foot.

When t'ie foot is lifted the clog follows and is held in engagement with the bottom of the foot,` and when the heel is lifted relative to the ball of the foot the rear block l2 follows the heel, pivoting at the hinge 14 relative to the front block 13.

It is found that during this action there is a sliding action between the upper surface of the rear block and the lower surface of the heel, which is believed to have a beneficial therapeutic effect in massaging this portion of the foot.

The clogs are perfectly comfortable and may be worn in the bath without slippage because of the corrugated rubber strips engaging the door. They may be worn on the beach, in gravel or in the water without possibility of picking up any gravel. f v

The straps tend to exclude gravel from the upper surfaces of the clog under the instep.

It will thus be observed that I have invented an improved clog construction in which the clog is securely held upon the foot by straps engaging the big toe and bchind the heel in such manner that the forces counterbalance each other.

The clog follows the bottom of the foot during any motion of the foot or bending action, and although the parts of the clog are made of rigid material they are as comfortable as any shoe.

The clogs may be manufactured very economically as they include a minimum number of parts, and they may be used for a long period of time under the most adverse conditions without substantial deterioration.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A hinged clog assembly for use on either foot, comprising a thicker rear heel part and a thinner forepart, said parts when assembled presenting in plan an outline of a sole, which is symmetrical on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis, both said parts having plane, lower surfaces, and said thicker rear part being beveled on its upper forward surface down to a forward edge which is at the same level as the top of the forepart, both of said parts having their adjacent edges straight and beveled on the lower side to present a wide-open beveled groove on the bottom of the assembly of the rear part and forepart which does not clamp rocks between the walls of said groove, and a hinge joining said parts and comprising two layers of belting fabric joined together along a median line of bend and diverging forwardly and backwardly from said line of bend and secured to the adjacent upper and lower surfaces of said parts, said upper surfaces being rabbeted to receive the belting fabric ush with the adjacent upper surfaces of the rear and forepart, and resilient strap means carried by the assembly and engaging behind the heel and comprising a pair of crossing straps of sulcient width to cover the large toe end, and secured to the front end of the assembly to the left and right of the longitudinal axis of the assembly in front of a large toe of either foot for centering the clog assembly under the foot of the user.

2. A hinged clog assembly for use on either foot, comprising a thicker rear heel part and a thinner forepart, said parts when assembled presenting in plan an outline of a sole, which is symmetrical on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis, both said parts having plane, lower surfaces, and said thicker rear part being beveled on its upper forward surface down to a forward edge which is at the same level as the top of the forepart, both of said parts having their adjacent edges straight and beveled on the lower side to present a wide-open beveled groove on the bottom of the assembly of the rear part and forepart which does not clamp rocks between the walls of said groove, and a hinge joining said parts and comprising two layers of belting fabric joined together along a median line of bend and diverging forwardly and backwardly from said line of bend and secured to the adjacent upper and lower surfaces of said parts, said upper surfaces being rabbeted to receive the belting fabric flush with the adjacent upper surfaces of the rear and forepart, and resilient strap means carried by the assembly and engaging behind the heel and in front of a large toe of either foot for centering the clog assembly under the foot of the user, said resilient strap means comprising a rear U-shaped strap and two front straps, the front straps being of sufficient width to cover the large toe end, and crossing each other and said front straps having their forward ends located to the left and right of the longitudinal axis of the assembly, so that the strap portion above the forward end engages the end of a large toe, one end of said rear U-strap and one end of the right front strap being secured to the left side of said rear part adjacent to but rearwardly of said hinge, the other end of said U-strap and the rear end of the left front strap being secured to the opposite side of said rear part adjacent to but rearwardly of said hinge, the front ends of said front straps being secured to the forward vside of the forepart substantially below the end of the large toe in each case, depending on the use of the assembly on a left or a right foot, the said strap means exerting a force on the heel and a large toe end in either case to center the assembly on to the foot of a user.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 873,602 Price Dec. 10, 1907 l 1,250,852 Goldstone Dec. 18, 1917 2,177,571 Kirke Oct. 24, 1939 2,466,580 Dalbey Apr. 5, 1949 2,489,429 Nathan Nov. 29, 1949 2,518,649 Tydings Aug. l5, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 176,008 Switzerland .Tune l, 1935 484,081 France June 9, 1917 871,415 France Apr. 24, 1942 

